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Investors put significantly more trust in their individual financial advisers than they do in big financial companies, according to a Cerulli Associates survey. One in 4 households said that firms have their best interests at heart in their investment recommendations, the survey found. Two-thirds of investors said that their interests should always be the priority for advisers, the survey found.

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Younger affluent investors are less likely to believe their adviser is acting in their best interest than other age groups, according to a survey by Market Strategies International. Generation X and Y clients are also more likely to distribute their assets among several advisers, the survey found.

Nearly half (47%) of asset managers surveyed by Cerulli Associates report they are looking to hire marketing staff to bolster their alternative investment operations over the next year, and 41% say they will invest in sales appointments. Investor interest in alternative products is driving this growth.

Individual investors have more confidence in their financial adviser than in an advisory firm as a whole, according to a survey by Cerulli Associates. More than 60% of clients think advisers are required to act in their best interest, whereas 28% think advisory firms put clients ahead of themselves.

Two-thirds of surveyed investors indicate they have more trust in their financial advisers than they have in their financial services firms, according to Cerulli Associates. The survey also noted that unrealistic expectations may be part of the problem, as most investors expect a fiduciary standard from the advisers when they are only entitled to a suitability standard. "Firms that fully embrace and promote their roles as fiduciary providers are most likely to increase their opportunities among retail investors," the survey said.

A surprising number of investors have no idea what fees they are paying their financial advisers, according to a survey by Cerulli Associates and Phoenix Marketing International. Thirty-three percent of the clients responding said they didn't think they were required to pay anything to their financial advisers and 31% weren't sure how advisers are compensated for their services, the survey found.